S-A/ CureDM deal for diabetes treatment

Sanofi-aventis (S-A) has announced it has signed a deal with CureDM to acquire the licence for novel diabetes treatment, Pancreate (proisletide acetate), with potential total payments reaching $335m.

Under the agreement, S-A will be granted a global licence to develop, manufacture and market the human peptide, with biopharmaceutical company, CureDM, receiving an undisclosed upfront payment, as well as various milestone incentives and tiered royalties on worldwide product sales

Pancreate has shown promise in preclinical studies by stimulating the growth of insulin producing islets in the pancreas. These islets play an important role in maintaining glucose levels, with too few of these islets to keep up with demand for insulin a fundamental problem in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients.

The treatment offers a new approach in treating this issue, potentially enabling a patient to restore their insulin producing ability, leading to increased glucose control in the blood and a restored metabolic function.

Phase 1 trials to develop Pancreate are planned for next year according to S-A.

"Sanofi-aventis is pleased to add to its Diabetes Division pipeline this highly innovative technology that has the potential to stimulate the formation of fully functional new pancreatic islets, thereby helping to restore patients' pancreatic function," said Dr Marc Cluzel, executive vice president of R&D at S-A.

"Once fully developed, Pancreate has the potential to become the first regenerative treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to address the challenges that the growing diabetes epidemic poses on patients and healthcare systems."